Conservatorio Nacional de Música

What it is. Since 1886 the Conservatory has trained professional musicians at a high level across four strands: performance, research, composition and teaching. It promotes arts education by putting students and teachers into real musical settings rather than keeping them in classrooms.

Why visitors should care. It runs a programme of free activities —concerts, recitals, masterclasses— open to the public. For anyone who wants live classical music in Mexico City without the price of the Palacio de Bellas Artes, this is the best-value option in the city; the hall itself is a notable piece of mid-century architecture.

Before you go. Check the current programme, as the calendar follows the academic year and much of it is announced only a week or two ahead. The building is on Avenida Presidente Masaryk, in Polanco: Auditorio station on metro Line 7 is the closest, with the Auditorio Nacional and Chapultepec across the avenue.